Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in New York to attend the 80th week-long session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The assembly which will begin on Monday, is expected to close on Sept. 28. On arrival at John Kennedy International Airport in New York, Shettima was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, and the Charge d’Affaires at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, Amb. Samson Itegboje.
Also, on ground to welcome the Vice-President are the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, the Nigeria Defence Attaché New York, Brig. -Gen. Edward Koleoso, Defence Attaché Washington, Group Capt. Sani Kalgo, among others.
Representing President Bola Tinubu, Shettima is set to deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the global event, participate in the UN high-level general debates, and attend various side events.
While in New York, the Vice President will announce Nigeria’s new Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs, under the Paris Agreement.
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He will also attend the high-level roundtable of the Global Champions on Adequate and Affordable Housing; present Nigeria’s national statement as well engage in several bilateral meetings and other engagements.
Speaking on Nigeria’s target for this year’s UNGA, Tuggar, said Nigeria is championing the United Nations Global Convention on Taxation which is very central to the ongoing pushed to reform the global financial architecture.
“This is something that has put Nigeria in the position of leadership and you can see that during the briefing for the Vice President, there were Minister’s present, senior government officials and the whole idea of having this briefing is so that we will all be on the same page.”
“So going out engaging, we have to make sure that we promote this, we also promote Nigeria’s push to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, because Africa has something refers to as the common African position.”
Tuggar noted that Africa is the only continent or grouping that has a common position on what should be done when it comes to reforming the UN Security Council.
The minister insisted that Africa should have a minimum of two permanent seat based on what is refers to as Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
“We also have the issue of peace keeping, you know Nigeria has participated in one of the 60 peace keeping operation that the United Nations had.”
“Nigeria contributes not only on the African side but indeed also on the UN side. We reiterated the Nigeria’s position on conflict in the Middle East, in Gaza, Palestine, the issue of Eastern Congo, the conflict in Sudan.”
“The Vice-President will be meeting with the Prime Minister of Sudan, and he is also going to participate in the African Union Peace and security council meeting,” he said.
Also, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna state said Nigeria’s participation in the 80th UNGA will certainly further reposition the country as an investment destination and one the leading economy in Africa.
“We are looking at areas of our strength, we are here with some Minister’s and governors. Some of the areas we are looking at has to do with solid minerals resources which Nigeria is really doing extremely well.”
“We are also looking at other areas of investment that has to do with our economy; that is the area of Agriculture and other areas of economy, skills-based education in our country.
And of course, the Vice-President has prepared the Nigerian position that will be deliver on Wednesday by the grace of God and I’m optimistic that will further reposition Nigeria as the leading economy in Africa,” the governor said.
For her part, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olajumoke Oduwole, said Nigeria will push for its position in promoting and enforcing Sustainable Development and marrying it to the nation’s goal.
“We also have a number of interventions and sides events that Nigeria will be hosting. On Monday we have Nigeria Investment Day which will be attended by the Vice President Shettima.
It will highlight our priority sectors. We are highlighting the solid minerals; we are highlighting telecommunications and technology in its entirety.
“So, in all is to push forward the Renewed Hope Agenda and the areas that we are focusing on in investment to push forward the reforms that the Nigerian economy has experience in the last two years.
And to make sure that all the friends of Nigeria in New York for this event are well vast in the position of where we are now,” she said.
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